Johnson City, Tenn. (June 14, 2002) - East Tennessee State's football team has been ranked eighth nationally by Street & Smith magazine in the publications preseason NCAA I-AA football poll. The Buccaneers, coming off their third straight 6-5 season and an upset of top-ranked Georgia Southern in 2001, are making their first appearance in a national poll since the 1999 season. ETSU returns 13 starters from last season's squad, including all 11 on defense, and 42 letterwinners overall. East Tennessee State will open 2002's 12-game schedule with a visit to ACC foe North Carolina State on August 31. The Bucs will open their six-game home schedule on September 7 when they host Mars Hill. For ticket information contact the ETSU athletic ticket office at (423) 439-5371.